Image capturing apparatus, device, communication method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image capturing apparatus, which includes a mounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicating with the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard, obtains, from the device, information of communication specifications used to perform predetermined communication, in accordance with the predetermined standard, with the device mounted in the mounting part, and performs, using the obtained information of the communication specifications, the predetermined communication with the device mounted in the mounting part in accordance with the predetermined standard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication technique of anapparatus.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, image processing such as image analysis of performingobject detection and tracking or performing attribute estimation, andestimation of the number of objects based on the result of such imageanalysis is performed in various scenes using images captured by amonitoring camera. Conventionally, such image processing has beenperformed by transferring videos from the monitoring camera to a highperformance arithmetic apparatus such as a PC or a server that executesactual image processing. However, the recent improvement of theprocessing capability of mobile arithmetic apparatuses allows themonitoring camera side to perform image processing. Processing on thecamera side can be executed by, for example, an arithmetic apparatusarranged in a camera main body. When the arithmetic apparatus isarranged in a detachable device such as a USB, the detachable device canexecute at least a part of processing.

To cause the detachable device to execute processing, the cameraperforms necessary communication with the detachable device. At thistime, the communication between the camera and the detachable device canbe performed in accordance with a predetermined standard. However,communication specifications may change due to, for example, updating ofthe firmware of the detachable device, definition of new commands, andthe like. If such a change of communication specifications has occurred,both the camera and the detachable device need to cope with the changedcommunication specifications. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-022427describes a technique in which a host apparatus reads out a driversuitable for an inserted detachable device from the detachable devicebased on driver information, thereby coping with a specification changeand function expansion of the detachable device.

The technique of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-022427 is cumbersomebecause it needs software updating on the host side.

The present invention provides a method of easily executingcommunication using a new communication function with a detachabledevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided animage capturing apparatus comprising: a mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard; anobtaining unit configured to obtain, from the device, information ofcommunication specifications used to perform predeterminedcommunication, in accordance with the predetermined standard, with thedevice mounted in the mounting part; and a communication unit configuredto perform, using the obtained information of the communicationspecifications, the predetermined communication with the device mountedin the mounting part in accordance with the predetermined standard.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device mounted in a mounting part of an image capturing apparatusincluding the mounting part capable of attaching/detaching a devicecapable of holding at least an image captured by the image capturingapparatus and capable of communicating with the mounted device inaccordance with a predetermined standard, comprising: a providing unitconfigured to provide, to the image capturing apparatus, information ofcommunication specifications used to perform predetermined communicationwith the image capturing apparatus in accordance with the predeterminedstandard; and a communication unit configured to perform, using theprovided information of the communication specifications, thepredetermined communication with the image capturing apparatus inaccordance with the predetermined standard.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof an image capturing apparatus:

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the image capturing apparatus:

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof a detachable device:

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the detachable device:

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof an input/output apparatus:

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the input/output apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingexecuted by the system:

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof ascertaining analysis processing:

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof determining the contents of analysis processing:

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of control ofexecuting analysis processing;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of control ofexecuting post-processing;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are views showing the structures of a command and aresponse;

FIG. 14 is a view schematically showing data at an address that storesinformation of processing functions;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of information that the imagecapturing apparatus obtains:

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing:

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing:

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of a user interface;

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of the user interface in a state inwhich a processing result is shown;

FIG. 21 is a view schematically showing an image analysis processinggroup for face authentication processing and a processing groupexecutable in each apparatus;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing of obtainingthe information of communication specifications;

FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of the information of communicationspecifications; and

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing ofregistering the information of communication specifications in thedetachable device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features aredescribed in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an inventionthat requires all such features, and multiple such features may becombined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the samereference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, andredundant description thereof is omitted.

<System Arrangement>

FIG. 1 shows an example of the arrangement of an image analysis systemaccording to this embodiment. As an example, a case in which this systemis a specific person tracking system will be described below. However,the present invention is not limited to this, and the following argumentcan be applied to an arbitrary system for analyzing an image andperforming predetermined information output. This system is configuredto include image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 d, a network 120,and an input/output apparatus 130. Note that the image capturingapparatuses 110 a to 110 d each include a slot to/from which a devicecapable of recording, for example, a captured image can beattached/detached, and when the detachable devices 100 a to 100 d areinserted into the slots, the image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 dare connected to the detachable devices 100 a to 100 d. Note that thedetachable devices 100 a to 100 d will be referred to as “detachabledevices 100”, and the image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 d will bereferred to as “image capturing apparatuses 110” hereinafter.

The detachable device 100 is an arithmetic device attachable/detachableto/from the image capturing apparatus 110. As an example, the detachabledevice 100 is a device with a predetermined processing circuit mountedin an SD card. The detachable device 100 is configured to be inserted asa whole into the image capturing apparatus 110 in a form of, forexample, an SD card, and can therefore be configured to be connectableto the image capturing apparatus 110 without making any portion projectfrom the image capturing apparatus 110. Alternatively, the detachabledevice 100 may be configured such that, for example, a half or more ofit can be inserted into the image capturing apparatus 110, and maytherefore be configured to be connectable to the image capturingapparatus 110 while making a portion project a little from the imagecapturing apparatus 110. This can prevent the detachable device 100 frominterfering with an obstacle such as a wiring and raise the conveniencewhen using the device. In addition, since an SD card slot is prepared ina lot of existing image capturing apparatuses 110 such as a networkcamera, the detachable device 100 can provide an extension function tothe existing image capturing apparatus 110. Note that other than theform of an SD card, the detachable device 100 may be configured to bemounted in the image capturing apparatus 110 via an arbitrary interfaceused when mounting a storage device capable of storing an image capturedby at least the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, thedetachable device 100 may include a USB (Universal Serial Bus)interface, and may be configured to be mounted in a USB socket of theimage capturing apparatus 110. The predetermined processing circuit isimplemented by, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)programmed to execute predetermined processing but may be implemented inanother form.

The image capturing apparatus 110 is an image capturing apparatus suchas a network camera. In this embodiment, the image capturing apparatus110 incorporates an arithmetic apparatus capable of processing a videobut is not limited to this. For example, an external computer such as aPC (Personal Computer) connected to the image capturing apparatus 110may exist, and the combination may be handled as the image capturingapparatus 110. Additionally, in this embodiment, the detachable devices100 are mounted in all the image capturing apparatuses 110. Note thatFIG. 1 shows four image capturing apparatuses 110, and the detachabledevices mounted in these. The number of combinations of devices may bethree or less, or five or more. When the detachable device 100 having animage analysis processing function is mounted in the image capturingapparatus 110, video processing can be executed on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 even if the image capturing apparatus 110 doesnot have the image analysis processing function. Also, in a form inwhich an arithmetic apparatus for video processing is arranged in theimage capturing apparatus 110, as in this embodiment, image processingexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 can bediversified/sophisticated by mounting the detachable device 100including an arithmetic apparatus in the image capturing apparatus 110.

The input/output apparatus 130 is an apparatus that performs acceptanceof input from a user and output of information (for example, display ofinformation) to the user. In this embodiment, for example, theinput/output apparatus 130 is a computer such as a PC, and informationis input/output by a browser or a native application installed in thecomputer.

The image capturing apparatuses 110 and the input/output apparatus 130are communicably connected via the network 120. The network 120 isconfigured to include a plurality of routers, switches, cables, and thelike, which satisfy the communication standard of, for example,Ethernet®. In this embodiment, the network 120 can be an arbitrarynetwork that enables communication between the image capturing apparatus110 and the input/output apparatus 130, and can be constructed by anarbitrary scale and arrangement and a communication standard to complywith. For example, the network 120 can be the Internet, a wired LAN(Local Area Network), a wireless LAN, a WAN (Wide Area Network), or thelike. The network 120 can be configured such that, for example,communication by a communication protocol complying with the ONVIF (OpenNetwork Video Interface Forum) standard is possible. However, thenetwork 120 is not limited to this and may be configured such that, forexample, communication by another communication protocol such as aunique communication protocol is possible.

<Apparatus Arrangement>

(Arrangement of Image Capturing Apparatus)

The arrangement of the image capturing apparatus 110 will be describednext. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardwarearrangement of the image capturing apparatus 110. As the hardwarearrangement, the image capturing apparatus 110 includes, for example, animage capturing unit 201, an image processing unit 202, an arithmeticprocessing unit 203, a distribution unit 204, and an SD I/F unit 205.Note that I/F is an abbreviation of interface.

The image capturing unit 201 is configured to include a lens portionconfigured to form an image of light, and an image capturing elementthat performs analog signal conversion according to the formed image oflight. The lens portion has a zoom function of adjusting an angle ofview, a stop function of adjusting a light amount, and the like. Theimage capturing element has a gain function of adjusting sensitivitywhen converting light into an analog signal. These functions areadjusted based on set values notified from the image processing unit202. The analog signal obtained by the image capturing unit 201 isconverted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital conversioncircuit and transferred to the image processing unit 202 as an imagesignal.

The image processing unit 202 is configured to include an imageprocessing engine, and peripheral devices thereof. The peripheraldevices include, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), the driversof I/Fs, and the like. The image processing unit 202 performs, forexample, image processing such as development processing, filterprocessing, sensor correction, and noise removal for the image signalobtained from the image capturing unit 201, thereby generating imagedata. The image processing unit 202 can also transmit set values to thelens portion and the image capturing element and execute exposureadjustment to obtain an appropriately exposed image. The image datagenerated by the image processing unit 202 is transferred to thearithmetic processing unit 203.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 is formed by at least one processorsuch as a CPU or an MPU, memories such as a RAM and a ROM, the driversof I/Fs, and the like. Note that CPU is the acronym of CentralProcessing Unit, MPU is the acronym of Micro Processing Unit, RAM is theacronym of Random Access Memory, and ROM is the acronym of Read OnlyMemory. In an example, the arithmetic processing unit 203 can determineallocation concerning which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 should execute each portion of processing tobe executed in the above-described system, and execute processingcorresponding to the allocation. Details of processing contents andprocessing allocation will be described later. The image received fromthe image processing unit 202 is transferred to the distribution unit204 or the SD I/F unit 205. The data of the processing result is alsotransferred to the distribution unit 204.

The distribution unit 204 is configured to include a networkdistribution engine and, for example, peripheral devices such as a RAMand an ETH PHY module. The ETH PHY module is a module that executesprocessing of the physical (PHY) layer of Ethernet. The distributionunit 204 converts the image data or the data of the processing resultobtained from the arithmetic processing unit 203 into a formatdistributable to the network 120, and outputs the converted data to thenetwork 120. The SD I/F unit 205 is an interface portion used to connectthe detachable device 100, and is configured to include, for example, apower supply, and a mounting part such as an attaching/detaching socketused to attach/detach the detachable device 100. Here, the SD I/F unit205 is configured in accordance with the SD standard formulated by theSD Association. Communication between the detachable device 100 and theimage capturing apparatus 110, such as transfer of an image obtainedfrom the arithmetic processing unit 203 to the detachable device 100 ordata obtaining from the detachable device 100, is performed via the SDI/F unit 205.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the functional arrangement of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. The image capturing apparatus 110 includes, asits functions, for example, an image capturing control unit 301, asignal processing unit 302, a storage unit 303, a control unit 304, ananalysis unit 305, a device communication unit 306, and a networkcommunication unit 307.

The image capturing control unit 301 executes control of capturing theperipheral environment via the image capturing unit 201. The signalprocessing unit 302 performs predetermined processing for the imagecaptured by the image capturing control unit 301, thereby generatingdata of the captured image. The data of the captured image will simplybe referred to as the “captured image” hereinafter. The signalprocessing unit 302, for example, encodes the image captured by theimage capturing control unit 301. The signal processing unit 302performs encoding for a still image using, for example, an encodingmethod such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). The signalprocessing unit 302 performs encoding for a video using an encodingmethod such as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (to be referred to as “H.264”hereinafter) or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding). The signalprocessing unit 302 may encode an image using an encoding methodselected by the user from a plurality of encoding methods set in advancevia, for example, an operation unit (not shown) of the image capturingapparatus 110.

The storage unit 303 stores a list (to be referred to as a “firstprocessing list” hereinafter) of analysis processing executable by theanalysis unit 305 and a list of post-processes for a result of analysisprocessing. The storage unit 303 also stores a result of analysisprocessing to be described later. Note that in this embodiment,processing to be executed is analysis processing. However, arbitraryprocessing may be executed, and concerning processing associated withthe processing to be executed, the storage unit 303 may store the firstprocessing list and the list of post-processes. The control unit 304controls the signal processing unit 302, the storage unit 303, theanalysis unit 305, the device communication unit 306, and the networkcommunication unit 307 to execute predetermined processing.

The analysis unit 305 selectively executes at least one of pre-analysisprocessing, analysis processing, and post-analysis processing to bedescribed later for a captured image. Pre-analysis processing isprocessing to be executed for a captured image before analysisprocessing to be described later is executed. In the pre-analysisprocessing according to this embodiment, as an example, processing ofdividing a captured image to create divided images is executed. Analysisprocessing is processing of outputting information obtained by analyzingan input image. In the analysis processing according to this embodiment,as an example, processing of receiving a divided image obtained bypre-analysis processing, executing at least one of human body detectionprocessing, face detection processing, and vehicle detection processing,and outputting the analysis processing result is executed. The analysisprocessing can be processing configured to output the position of anobject in a divided image using a machine learning model that haslearned to detect an object included in an image using, for example, thetechnique in J. Redmon and A. Farhadi “YOLO9000: Better Faster Stronger”Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) 2016. Post-analysisprocessing is processing to be executed after analysis processing isexecuted. In the post-analysis processing according to this embodiment,as an example, processing of outputting, as a processing result, a valueobtained by adding the numbers of objects detected in the divided imagesbased on the analysis processing result for each divided image isexecuted. Note that the analysis processing may be processing ofdetecting an object in an image by performing pattern matching andoutputting the position of the object.

The device communication unit 306 performs communication with thedetachable device 100. The device communication unit 306 converts inputdata into a format processible by the detachable device 100, andtransmits data obtained by the conversion to the detachable device 100.In addition, the device communication unit 306 receives data from thedetachable device 10, and converts the received data into a formatprocessible by the image capturing apparatus 110. In this embodiment, asthe conversion processing, the device communication unit 306 executesprocessing of converting a decimal between a floating point format and afixed point format. However, the present invention is not limited tothis, and another process may be executed by the device communicationunit 306. Additionally, in this embodiment, the device communicationunit 306 transmits a command sequence determined in advance within therange of the SD standard to the detachable device 100, and receives aresponse from the detachable device 100, thereby performingcommunication with the detachable device 100. The network communicationunit 307 performs communication with the input/output apparatus 130 viathe network 120

(Arrangement of Detachable Device)

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof the detachable device 100. As an example, the detachable device 100is configured to include an I/F unit 401, an FPGA 402, an SD controller403, and a storage unit 404. The detachable device 100 is formed into ashape that can be inserted/removed into/from the attaching/detachingsocket of the SD I/F unit 205 provided in the image capturing apparatus110, that is, a shape complying with the SD standard.

The I/F unit 401 is an interface portion used to connect an apparatussuch as the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100.The I/F unit 401 is configured to include, for example, an electricalcontact terminal that receives supply of power from the image capturingapparatus 110 and generates and distributes a power supply to be used inthe detachable device 100, and the like. Concerning items defined in(complying with) the SD standard, the I/F unit 401 complies with that,like the SD I/F unit 205 of the image capturing apparatus 110. Receptionof images and setting data from the image capturing apparatus 110 andtransmission of data from the FPGA 402 to the image capturing apparatus110 are executed via the I/F unit 401.

The FPGA 402 is configured to include an input/output control unit 410,a processing switching unit 411, and an arithmetic processing unit 412.The FPGA 402 is a kind of semiconductor device capable of repetitivelyreconstructing an internal logic circuit structure. By processingimplemented by the FPGA 402, a processing function can be added(provided) to the apparatus in which the detachable device 100 ismounted. Additionally, since the logic circuit structure can be changedlater by the reconstruction function of the FPGA 402, when thedetachable device 100 is mounted in, for example, an apparatus in afield of a quickly advancing technology, appropriate processing can beexecuted in the apparatus at an appropriate timing. Note that in thisembodiment, an example in which an FPGA is used will be described.However, for example, a general-purpose ASIC or a dedicated LSI may beused if processing to be described later can be executed. The FPGA 402is activated by writing, from a dedicated I/F, setting data includingthe information of a logic circuit structure to be generated or readingout the setting data from the dedicated I/F. In this embodiment, thesetting data is held in the storage unit 404. When powered on, the FPGA402 reads out the setting data from the storage unit 404 and generatesand activates a logic circuit. However, the present invention is notlimited to this. For example, the image capturing apparatus 110 maywrite the setting data in the FPGA 402 via the I/F unit 401 byimplementing a dedicated circuit in the detachable device.

The input/output control unit 410 is configured to include a circuitused to transmit/receive an image to/from the image capturing apparatus110, a circuit that analyzes a command received from the image capturingapparatus 110, a circuit that controls based on a result of analysis,and the like. Commands here are defined by the SD standard, and theinput/output control unit 410 can detect some of them. Details of thefunctions will be described later. The input/output control unit 410controls to transmit an image to the SD controller 403 in storageprocessing and transmit an image to the arithmetic processing unit 412in image analysis processing. If the setting data of switching ofprocessing is received, the input/output control unit 410 transmits thesetting data to the processing switching unit 411. The processingswitching unit 411 is configured to include a circuit configured toobtain the information of the image analysis processing function fromthe storage unit 404 based on the setting data received from the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and write the information in the arithmeticprocessing unit 412. The information of the image analysis processingfunction includes setting parameters representing, for example, theorder and types of operations processed in the arithmetic processingunit 412, the coefficients of operations, and the like. The arithmeticprocessing unit 412 is configured to include a plurality of arithmeticcircuits needed to execute the image analysis processing function. Thearithmetic processing unit 412 executes each arithmetic processing basedon the information of the image analysis processing function receivedfrom the processing switching unit 411, transmits the processing resultto the image capturing apparatus 110, and/or records the processingresult in the storage unit 404. As described above, the FPGA 402extracts the setting data of an execution target processing functionincluded in setting data corresponding to a plurality of processingfunctions held in advance, and rewrites processing contents to beexecuted by the arithmetic processing unit 412 based on the extractedsetting data. This allows the detachable device 100 to selectivelyexecute at least one of the plurality of processing functions. Inaddition, by appropriately adding setting data of processing to be newlyadded, latest processing can be executed on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. Note that holding a plurality of setting datacorresponding to a plurality of processing functions will be referred toas holding a plurality of processing functions hereinafter. That is,even in a state in which the FPGA 402 of the detachable device 100 isconfigured to execute one processing function, if the processingcontents of the arithmetic processing unit 412 can be changed by settingdata for another processing function, this will be expressed as holdinga plurality of processing functions.

The SD controller 403 is a known control IC (Integrated Circuit) asdefined by the SD standard, and executes control of a slave operation ofan SD protocol and control of data read/write for the storage unit 404.The storage unit 404 is formed by, for example, a NAND flash memory, andstores various kinds of information such as storage data written fromthe image capturing apparatus 110, the information of the image analysisprocessing function written in the arithmetic processing unit 412, andsetting data of the FPGA 402.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the functional arrangement of the detachabledevice 100. The detachable device 100 includes, as its functionalarrangement, for example, an analysis unit 501 and a communication unit502. The analysis unit 501 executes analysis processing for an image.For example, if an analysis processing setting request is input, theanalysis unit 501 executes setting to set the input analysis processingin an executable state. If an image is input, the analysis unit 501executes the analysis processing set in the executable state for theinput image. In this embodiment, executable analysis processing includeshuman body detection processing and face detection processing but is notlimited to these. For example, it may be processing (face authenticationprocessing) of determining whether a person stored in advance isincluded in an image. For example, if the degree of matching between theimage feature of a person stored in advance and the image feature of aperson detected from an input image is calculated, and the degree ofmatching is equal to or larger than a threshold, it is determined thatthe person is the person stored in advance. Alternatively, it may beprocessing of superimposing a predetermined mask image or performingmosaic processing on a person detected from an input image for thepurpose of privacy protection. It may be processing of detecting, usinga learning model that has learned a specific action of a person bymachine learning, whether a person in an image is taking the specificaction. Furthermore, it may be processing of determining what kind ofregion a region in an image is. It may be processing of determining,using, for example, a learning model that has learned buildings, roads,persons, sky and the like by machine learning, what kind of region aregion in an image is. As described above, executable analysisprocessing can be applied to both image analysis processing usingmachine learning and image analysis processing without using machinelearning. Each analysis processing described above may be executed notindependently by the detachable device 100 but in cooperation with theimage capturing apparatus 110. The communication unit 502 performscommunication with the image capturing apparatus 110 via the I/F unit401.

(Arrangement of Input/Output Apparatus)

FIG. 6 shows an example of the hardware arrangement of the input/outputapparatus 130. The input/output apparatus 130 is formed as a computersuch as a general PC, and is configured to include, for example, aprocessor 601 such as a CPU, memories such as a RAM 602 and a ROM 603, astorage device such as an HDD 604, and a communication I/F 605, as shownin FIG. 6. The input/output apparatus 130 can execute various kinds offunctions by executing, by the processor 601, programs stored in thememories and the storage device.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the functional arrangement of theinput/output apparatus 130 according to this embodiment. Theinput/output apparatus 130 includes, as its functional arrangement, forexample, a network communication unit 701, a control unit 702, a displayunit 703, and an operation unit 704. The network communication unit 701is connected to, for example, the network 120 and executes communicationwith an external apparatus such as the image capturing apparatus 110 viathe network 120. Note that this is merely an example and, for example,the network communication unit 701 may be configured to establish directcommunication with the image capturing apparatus 110 and communicatewith the image capturing apparatus 110 without intervention of thenetwork 120 or other apparatus. The control unit 702 controls such thatthe network communication unit 701, the display unit 703, and theoperation unit 704 execute processing of their own. The display unit 703presents information to the user via, for example, a display. In thisembodiment, a result of rendering by a browser is displayed on adisplay, thereby presenting information to the user. Note thatinformation may be presented by a method such as an audio or a vibrationother than screen display. The operation unit 704 accepts an operationfrom the user. In this embodiment, the operation unit 704 is a mouse ora keyboard, and the user operates these to input a user operation to thebrowser. However, the operation unit 704 is not limited to this and maybe, for example, another arbitrary device capable of detecting a user'sintention, such as a touch panel or a microphone.

<Procedure of Processing>

An example of the procedure of processing executed in the system will bedescribed next. Note that processing executed by the image capturingapparatus 110 in the following processes is implemented by, for example,by a processor in the arithmetic processing unit 203, executing aprogram stored in a memory or the like. However, this is merely anexample, and processing to be described later may partially or wholly beimplemented by dedicated hardware. In addition, processing executed bythe detachable device 100 or the input/output apparatus 130 may also beimplemented by, by a processor in each apparatus, executing a programstored in a memory or the like, and processing may partially or whollybe implemented by dedicated hardware.

(Overall Procedure)

FIG. 8 schematically shows a series of procedures of image analysisprocessing executed by the system. In this processing, first, the usermounts the detachable device 100 in the image capturing apparatus 110(step S801). The image capturing apparatus 110 executes aninitialization sequence of the detachable device 100 (step S802). Inthis initialization sequence, predetermined commands aretransmitted/received between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, and the image capturing apparatus 110 is thus setin a state in which it can use the detachable device 100. After that,the image capturing apparatus 110 ascertains processing executable bythe detachable device 100, and ascertains processing that can beexecuted locally (that can be executed only by the image capturingapparatus 110 or by the combination of the image capturing apparatus 110and the detachable device 100) (step S803). Note that although thedetachable device 100 can be configured to execute arbitrary processing,processing irrelevant to processing that should be executed on the sideof the image capturing apparatus 110 need not be taken intoconsideration. In an example, the image capturing apparatus 110 may holda list of executable processes, which is obtained in advance from, forexample, the input/output apparatus 130. In this case, when obtaining,from the detachable device 100, information representing processingexecutable by the detachable device 100, the image capturing apparatus110 can ascertain only the executable processing depending on whetherthe processing is included in the list. Next, the image capturingapparatus 110 determines processing to be executed, and executes settingof the detachable device 100 as needed (step S804). That is, if at leastpart of processing determined as an execution target is to be executedby the detachable device 100, setting of the detachable device 100 forthe processing is executed. In this setting, for example, reconstructionof the FPGA 402 using setting data corresponding to the processing ofthe execution target can be performed. Then, the image capturingapparatus 110 or the detachable device 100 executes analysis processing(step S805). After that, the image capturing apparatus 110 executespost-processing (step S806). Note that the processes of steps S805 andS806 are repetitively executed. The processing shown in FIG. 8 isexecuted when, for example, the detachable device 100 is mounted.However, at least part of the processing shown in FIG. 8 mayrepetitively be executed such that, for example, the process of stepS803 is executed again when the detachable device 100 is detached.

(Processing of Ascertaining Excitable Processing)

FIG. 9 shows an example of the procedure of processing of ascertainingprocessing executable by the image capturing apparatus 110. Thisprocessing corresponds to the process of step S803 in FIG. 8, and can beexecuted if a device such as the detachable device 100 is mounted on theimage capturing apparatus 110 or removed, or if the image capturingapparatus 110 is powered on. In this processing, the image capturingapparatus 110 reads out processing executable by the detachable device100, integrates it with analysis processing excitable by the imagecapturing apparatus 110 itself, and ascertains analysis processingexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110.

First, the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 readsout a first processing list that is a list of processes executable bythe analysis unit 305 of the image capturing apparatus 110 itself, whichis stored in the storage unit 303 (step S901). Next, the control unit304 determines whether the mounted device is, for example, aconventional device having only a storage function of a predetermineddevice such as the detachable device 100 having a specific processingfunction (step S902). For example, the control unit 304 controls thedevice communication unit 306 to issue a read request (read command) fora specific address to the mounted device and read out flag data storedat the specific address. The specific address will sometime be referredto as an “address A” hereinafter. Note that details of the data storedat the address A will be described later. The control unit 304 candetermine, based on the read flag data, whether the detachable device100 is a predetermined device having a specific processing function.However, this is merely an example, and it may be determined by anothermethod whether the mounted device is a predetermined device.

If the mounted device is a predetermined device (YES in step S902), thecontrol unit 304 executes processing of ascertaining processingexecutable in the device (detachable device 100). The control unit 304controls the device communication unit 306 to communicate withdetachable device 100 and obtain a list (to be referred to as a “secondprocessing list” hereinafter) of processes executable in the detachabledevice 100 (step S903). The control unit 304 reads out the data storedat the address A as in a case in which, for example, it is determinedwhether the detachable device 100 is a predetermined device, therebyobtaining the second processing list. Note that, for example, the secondprocessing list can be stored at the same address (address A) as theflag data used to determine whether the detachable device is apredetermined device. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110can simultaneously execute the process of step S902 and the process ofstep S903 by accessing the address A and simultaneously obtaining theflag data and the second processing list. However, the present inventionis not limited to this, and these data may be stored at differentaddresses. After that, the control unit 304 creates an integratedprocessing list in which the first processing list of processesexecutable by the image capturing apparatus 110 itself, which is readout from the storage unit 303, and the second processing list obtainedfrom the detachable device are integrated (step S904), and ends theprocessing.

The integrated processing list represents a list of processes locallyexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 withoutperforming processing by an apparatus such as a server apparatus on thenetwork. Note that in this embodiment, the integrated processing list isa list obtained by the union of the processes included in the firstprocessing list and the processes included in the second processinglist. The integrated processing list is the list of processes includedin at least one of the first processing list and the second processinglist. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, if another process can be executed by combining a processincluded in the first processing list and a process included in thesecond processing list, the other executable processing may be added tothe integrated processing list. That is, if new analysis processing canbe executed using at least some of the processes included in the firstprocessing list and at least some of the processes included in thesecond processing list together, the information of the analysisprocessing can be included in the integrated processing list. Forexample, face authentication processing can be implemented by a functiongroup of a face detection processing function, a face characteristicextraction processing function, and a face characteristic collationprocessing function. At this time, if the face detection processingfunction and the face characteristic extraction processing function areincluded in the first processing list, and the face characteristiccollation processing function is included in the second processing list,the face authentication processing can be included in the integratedprocessing list.

If the mounted device is not a predetermined device (NO in step S902),the control unit 304 determines that there is no processing executableby the mounted device. Hence, the control unit 304 sets the firstprocessing list of processes executable by the self-apparatus, which isread out from the storage unit 303, as the integrated processing listrepresenting processes locally executable on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 (step S905), and ends the processing. Note thatwhen the processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed at the time of deviceremoval, the predetermined device is not mounted, as a matter of course,and therefore, the first processing list is handled as the integratedprocessing list.

This makes it possible to form a list of processes locally executable onthe side of the image capturing apparatus 110 based on whether thedetachable device 100 capable of executing specific processing ismounted in the image capturing apparatus 110. In addition, when theintegrated processing list is presented to the user, as will bedescribed later, the user can select processing that becomes locallyexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 by themounting of the detachable device 100.

Note that in this embodiment, an example in which the integratedprocessing list is generated has been described. However, the firstprocessing list and the second processing list may separately bemanaged, and the integrated processing list may not be generated. Thatis, processes executable by the detachable device 100 and processesexecutable by the image capturing apparatus 110 without the detachabledevice 100 may be managed in a distinguishable manner and output. Evenif the first processing list and the second processing list are managedin a distinguishable manner, the integrated processing list may begenerated and managed. For example, if new processing can be executedusing a process included in the first processing list and a processincluded in the second processing list together, the new processing isincluded not in the first processing list and the second processing listbut in the integrated processing list. Note that when the integratedprocessing list is output, information representing whether a processincluded in the integrated processing list is included in the firstprocessing list or the second processing list in a distinguishablemanner can be output together. This allows the user to recognize, forexample, whether presented processing can be executed without thedetachable device 100.

Note that the above-described processing list is provided to an externalapparatus that is not included at least in the image capturing apparatus110, like the input/output apparatus 130, but may not be provided to theoutside. For example, the processing list may be output by displaying iton a display if the image capturing apparatus 110 includes a display orby outputting the processing list by an audio if the image capturingapparatus 110 has an audio output function. If the detachable device 100having an unintended function is erroneously mounted in the imagecapturing apparatus 110, the user can quickly recognize the mountingerror by presenting the processing list on the image capturing apparatus110. As described above, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output,in an arbitrary format, information based on the first processing listrepresenting processes executable by the image capturing apparatus 110and the second processing list representing processes executable by thedetachable device 100.

Additionally, when the detachable device 100 is removed, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes the processing shown in FIG. 9 again,thereby updating the integrated processing list. At this time, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 can discard the second processing listconcerning the removed detachable device 100. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the image capturing apparatus 110may separately store the second processing list concerning a certaindetachable device 100 in the storage unit 303 and output the secondprocessing list even in a case in which the detachable device 100 is notmounted. That is, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output thesecond processing list for the detachable device 100 mounted and removedin the past. The image capturing apparatus 110 may output informationrepresenting processing executable using a process included in thesecond processing list concerning the detachable device 100 mounted andremoved in the past and a process included in the first processing list(executable by the self-apparatus). In other words, the image capturingapparatus 110 can output information of processing that cannot beexecuted only by the self-apparatus. This makes it possible to notifythe user that the detachable device 100 capable of executing processingrepresented by output information exists, and that the processing can beexecuted by mounting the detachable device 100.

Furthermore, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output the secondprocessing list concerning the detachable device 100 (non-mounteddevice) that has never been mounted in the image capturing apparatus 110itself in the past but can be mounted in the image capturing apparatus110 itself. Information representing such a non-mounted device andanalysis processing executable by the non-mounted device can be, forexample, obtained by the image capturing apparatus 110 via an externalserver (not shown). The information representing the non-mounted deviceand analysis processing executable by the non-mounted device may be, forexample, held by the image capturing apparatus 110 in advance.

In addition, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output informationrepresenting a processing executable using a process included in thesecond processing list for the non-mounted device and a process includedin the first processing list (executable by the self-apparatus). Inother words, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output information ofprocessing that cannot be executed only by the self-apparatus. Thismakes it possible to notify the user that the detachable device 100capable of executing processing represented by output informationexists, and that the processing can be executed by mounting thedetachable device 100.

Note that when storing the second processing list for the detachabledevice 100 mounted and removed in the past, the image capturingapparatus 110 can store information capable of identifying the device,such as the model number of the detachable device 100, together. Whenoutputting the second processing list concerning the detachable device100, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output the informationcapable of identifying the detachable device 100 together. This allowsthe user to easily recognize which detachable device 100 should bemounted in the image capturing apparatus 110 to use a presentedprocessing function.

(Processing of Determining Analysis Processing Contents)

FIG. 10 shows an example of the procedure of processing of determininganalysis processing contents by the image capturing apparatus 110. Inthis processing, analysis processing locally executable on the side ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 is presented to the user via theinput/output apparatus 130, and the input/output apparatus 130 acceptsselection of the user. The image capturing apparatus 110 determinesanalysis processing to be executed in accordance with informationrepresenting the user selection accepted via the input/output apparatus130.

In this processing, first, the control unit 702 of the input/outputapparatus 130 controls the network communication unit 701 to executecommunication with the image capturing apparatus 110 and requestobtaining of a captured image, an integrated processing list, and apost-processing list (step S1001). As an example, the input/outputapparatus 130 transmits a request message defined by the ONVIF standardto the image capturing apparatus 110, thereby requesting transmission ofinformation to the image capturing apparatus 110. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the information transmissionrequest may be done by another message or the like. In the imagecapturing apparatus 110, based on the request, the image capturingcontrol unit 301 captures the peripheral environment, and the controlunit 304 controls the signal processing unit 302 to process an imagecaptured by the image capturing control unit 301 and obtain a capturedimage (step S1002). Note that the image capturing apparatus 110 maycapture the peripheral environment independently of the presence/absenceof the request and continuously obtain a captured image. The imagecapturing apparatus 110 may locally store the captured image or transferthe captured image to another apparatus such as a network server andstore. The control unit 304 reads out a post-processing list stored inthe storage unit 303. In this embodiment, the post-processing listincludes display processing and storage processing but is not limited tothis. The control unit 304 controls the network communication unit 307to transmit the post-processing list, an integrated processing listobtained by the processing shown in FIG. 9, and the captured imageobtained in step S1002 to the input/output apparatus 130 (step S1003).As an example, the image capturing apparatus 110 transmits a responsemessage to the request message defined by the above-described ONVIFstandard to the input/output apparatus 130, thereby transmitting theinformation to the input/output apparatus 130. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the information may be transmittedby another message or the like. Note that only processing to be executedmay be taken into consideration here, and the captured image request bythe input/output apparatus 130 in step S1001, the captured imageobtaining in step S1002, and captured image transmission to theinput/output apparatus 130 in step S1003 may not be performed.

The control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 controls thenetwork communication unit 701 to receive the captured image and theintegrated processing list from the image capturing apparatus 110. Thecontrol unit 702 then controls the display unit 703 to present theintegrated processing list and the post-processing list to the user byscreen display or the like (step S1004). Note that at this time, thecontrol unit 702 may also present the captured image to the user byscreen display or the like. After that, the user confirms the integratedprocessing list and the post-processing list displayed by the displayunit 703, and selects analysis processing to be executed (to be referredto as “execution target processing” hereinafter) from the integratedprocessing list via the operation unit 704 (step S1005). In addition,the user selects a post-processing to be executed (to be referred to as“execution target post-processing” hereinafter) via the operation unit704 (step S1006). Details of information presentation to the user instep S1004, analysis processing selection by the user in step S1005, andpost-processing selection by the user in step S1006 will be describedlater. The operation unit 704 outputs the selection results of theexecution target processing and the execution target post-processing tothe control unit 702. The control unit 702 controls the networkcommunication unit 701 to transmit information representing theexecution target processing and the execution target post-processinginput from the operation unit 704 to the image capturing apparatus 110(step S1007).

The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 controls thenetwork communication unit 307 to receive the information representingthe execution target processing selected by the user from theinput/output apparatus 130 and determine whether the execution targetprocessing is processing included in the second processing list (stepS1008). If the execution target processing is not included in the secondprocessing list (NO in step S1008), the control unit 304 ends theprocessing shown in FIG. 10 without making a notification to thedetachable device 100 to execute the processing in the image capturingapparatus 110. On the other hand, if the execution target processing isincluded in the second processing list (YES in step S1008), the controlunit 304 controls the device communication unit 306 to transfer anexecution target processing setting request to the detachable device 100(step S1009).

The communication unit 502 of the detachable device 100 receives theexecution target processing setting request from the image capturingapparatus 110. At this time, the communication unit 502 can discriminatethe execution target processing setting request by the amount of datawritten from the image capturing apparatus 110 or the type of a writecommand. Details of the setting request discrimination method will bedescribed later. The communication unit 502 outputs the execution targetprocessing setting request received from the image capturing apparatus110 to the analysis unit 501. Based on the execution target processingsetting request input from the communication unit 502, the analysis unit501 executes setting to set the detachable device 100 in a state inwhich the execution target processing can be executed (step S1010). Forexample, after the completion of the setting processing, thecommunication unit 502 transmits a setting completion notification tothe image capturing apparatus 110 (step S1011). Note that thecommunication unit 502 need only notify information for inhibiting theimage capturing apparatus 110 from writing data at a timing at which thesetting of the detachable device 100 is not completed yet, and maynotify the image capturing apparatus 110 of the information of thesetting completion timing or the like before the setting is actuallycompleted. The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110controls the device communication unit 306 to receive the settingcompletion notification from the detachable device 100.

The setting completion notification from the detachable device 100 tothe image capturing apparatus 110 can be executed using, for example,one of the following three methods. In the first notification method,the communication unit 502 outputs a BUSY signal in a case in which thesetting of the execution target processing has not ended at the time ofwrite processing of the data of the first block from the image capturingapparatus 110. Output of the BUSY signal is performed by, for example,driving a signal line of DATA defined by the SD standard to a Low state.In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 confirms the BUSYsignal, thereby discriminating whether the setting of the executiontarget processing is completed. In the second notification method, thetime until setting of the execution target processing is completed isstored in advance at the above-described specific address, and the imagecapturing apparatus 110 reads out the information of the time until thesetting completion. After the elapse of the time until the executiontarget processing setting completion, the image capturing apparatus 110outputs write data (issues a write command). This allows the imagecapturing apparatus 110 to transmit the data of the captured image afterthe setting of the execution target processing is completed. In thethird notification method, when the setting of the execution targetprocessing is completed, the analysis unit 501 writes a settingcompletion flag at a second specific address of the detachable device100. The image capturing apparatus 110 reads out the data at the secondspecific address, thereby discriminating whether the setting of theexecution target processing is completed. Note that the information ofthe address at which the setting completion flag is written may bestored at the above-described specific address or may be stored atanother address.

As in the processing shown in FIG. 10, when the integrated processinglist determined depending on whether the detachable device 100 capableof executing specific processing is mounted in the image capturingapparatus 110 is used, the execution target processing can appropriatelybe determined in consideration of the state on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. If the execution target processing includes aprocess to be executed by the detachable device 100, setting of thedetachable device 100 is automatically performed, thereby making apreparation for executing the processing selected by the user withoutperforming a setting operation by the user. If the execution targetprocessing does not include a process to be executed by the detachabledevice 100, setting of the detachable device 100 is not performed,thereby preventing setting of the detachable device 100 for beingunnecessarily performed in a case in which the processing is to beexecuted only by the image capturing apparatus 110.

(Execution Control of Analysis Processing)

FIG. 11 shows an example of the procedure of control when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes analysis processing. In thisprocessing, first, the image capturing control unit 301 captures theperipheral environment (step S1101). The control unit 304 controls thesignal processing unit 302 to process an image captured by the imagecapturing control unit 301 and obtain a captured image. After that, thecontrol unit 304 controls the analysis unit 305 to execute pre-analysisprocessing for the captured image input from the control unit 304 andobtain the image of the pre-analysis processing result (step S1102). Thecontrol unit 304 determines whether the execution target processing isincluded in the second processing list (step S1103).

Upon determining that the execution target processing is not included inthe second processing list (NO in step S1103), the control unit 304controls the analysis unit 305 to execute the execution targetprocessing for the image of the pre-analysis processing result in theimage capturing apparatus 110 (step S1104). The control unit 304controls the analysis unit 305 to execute post-analysis processing forthe analysis processing result (step S1108), and ends the processing.

If the execution target processing is included in the second processinglist (YES in step S1103), the control unit 304 controls the devicecommunication unit 306 to transmit the image of the pre-analysisprocessing result to the detachable device 100 (step S1105). Forexample, the control unit 304 issues a write request (write command) ofthe pre-analysis processing result, thereby transmitting the image ofthe pre-analysis processing result to the detachable device 100. Thecommunication unit 502 of the detachable device 100 receives the imageof the pre-analysis processing result from the image capturing apparatus110, and outputs the image received from the image capturing apparatus110 to the analysis unit 501. The analysis unit 501 executes theexecution target processing set in step S1010 of FIG. 10 for the imageinput from the communication unit 502 (step S1106). Then, thecommunication unit 502 transmits the analysis processing result obtainedby the processing of the analysis unit 501 to the image capturingapparatus 110 (step S1107). The control unit 304 of the image capturingapparatus 110 controls the device communication unit 306 to receive theanalysis processing result from the detachable device 100. After that,the control unit 304 controls the analysis unit 305 to executepost-analysis processing for the analysis processing result (stepS1108).

Transmission of the analysis processing result from the detachabledevice 100 to the image capturing apparatus 110 is done, for example, inthe following way. The analysis unit 501 of the detachable device 100stores the analysis processing result at the storage destination addressfor the analysis processing result, which is assigned for each executiontarget processing. The image capturing apparatus 110 reads outinformation representing the storage address of the analysis processingresult, which is stored at the address A together with, for example, thesecond processing list, and issues a read request (read command) for thestorage address. The detachable device 100 receives the read request forthe storage address of the analysis processing result via thecommunication unit 502, and outputs the analysis processing result tothe image capturing apparatus 110. Note that the image capturingapparatus 110 can issue the read request for the storage address of theanalysis processing result, for example, after the elapse of anestimated processing time stored at the address A. In addition, thedetachable device 100 may output a BUSY signal from the write request ofthe last block of the pre-analysis processing result transmitted fromthe image capturing apparatus 110 to the end of the execution targetprocessing. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 can issuethe read request for the storage address of the analysis processingresult when the BUSY signal is not received any more. This allows theimage capturing apparatus 110 to obtain the processing result after theend of the processing.

With the above-described processing, the image capturing apparatus 110can determine, in accordance with the selected execution targetprocessing, whether to transfer the captured image to the detachabledevice 100. It is therefore possible to execute analysis processing ofthe captured image while the user is not conscious of which one of theimage capturing apparatus 110 or the detachable device 100 shouldexecute analysis processing.

(Execution Control of Post-Processing)

FIG. 12 shows an example of the procedure of control when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes post-processing. In this processing,the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 determineswhether “display” is included in the execution target post-processing(step S1201). Upon determining that display is included in the executiontarget post-processing (YES in step S1201), the control unit 304controls the network communication unit 307 to transmit the result ofanalysis processing to the input/output apparatus 130 (step S1202). Thecontrol unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 controls the networkcommunication unit 701 to receive the result of analysis processing fromthe image capturing apparatus 110, and then controls the display unit703 to present the result of analysis processing to the user by screendisplay or the like (step S1203). On the other hand, if the control unit304 determines that display is not included in the execution targetpost-processing (NO in step S1201), the processes of steps S1202 andS1203 are not executed.

In addition, the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110determines whether “storage” is included in the execution targetpost-processing (step S1204). Note that the determination of step S1204may be executed before step S1201 or may be executed in parallel to thestep S1201. Upon determining that storage is included in the executiontarget post-processing (YES in step S1204), the control unit 304controls the storage unit 303 to store the result of analysis processingand ends the processing. On the other hand, upon determining thatstorage is not included in the execution target post-processing (NO instep S1204), the control unit 304 ends the processing without executingthe process of step S1205.

As described above, in accordance with the selected post-processing, theimage capturing apparatus 110 can execute transfer of the result ofanalysis processing to the input/output apparatus 130 or storage in thestorage unit 303 without accepting a special setting operation of theuser and improve the convenience.

(Communication Between Image Capturing Apparatus 110 and DetachableDevice 100)

Communication between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 will be described here. The arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the SD controller 403of the detachable device 100 are connected by a power supply line, a GNDline, a clock line, a command line, and a data line via the deviceinsertion socket of the SD I/F unit 205 of the image capturing apparatus110. Note that the clock line, the command line, and the data line areconnected via the FPGA 402. On the clock line, a synchronization clockoutput from the arithmetic processing unit 203 is communicated. On thecommand line, a command issued for an operation request from thearithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403 and a responseto the command from the SD controller 403 to the arithmetic processingunit 203 are communicated. On the data line, write data from thearithmetic processing unit 203 and read data from the detachable device100 are communicated. In addition, the arithmetic processing unit 203discriminates High and Low of a device detect signal of the deviceinsertion socket of the SD I/F unit 205, thereby recognizing whether thedetachable device 100 is inserted.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 issues a command to the SD controller403 on the command line after power supply. Upon receiving a responsefrom the SD controller 403 and output data representing deviceinformation as an SD card, the arithmetic processing unit 203 sets avoltage for data communication, a communication speed (clock frequency),and the like.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show the structures of a command and a responsecommunicated on the command line. The command and response havestructures complying with the SD standard. A command 1301 issued fromthe arithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403 isconfigured to include a command number part 1304, a command argumentpart 1305, and an error correction data part 1306. In the command numberpart 1304, a value indicating the type of the command is described. Forexample, if a value “23” is stored in the command number part 1304, thisindicates that the command is a block count designation command fordesignating the number of data blocks. If a value “25” is stored in thecommand number part 1304, this indicates that the command is amulti-write command. If a value “12” is stored in the command numberpart 1304, this indicates that the command is a data transfer stopcommand. In the command argument part 1305, pieces of information suchas the number of transfer data blocks and the write/read address of amemory are designated in accordance with the type of the command. Acommand start bit 1302 representing the start position of the command isadded to the first bit of the command, and a command end bit 1307representing the end of the command is added to the final bit of thecommand. Additionally, a direction bit 1303 representing that thecommand is a signal output from the image capturing apparatus 110 to thedetachable device 100 is also added after the command start bit 1302.

A response 1311 returned from the SD controller 403 in response to thecommand from the arithmetic processing unit 203 includes a responsenumber part 1314 representing for which command the response isreturned, a response argument part 1315, and an error correction datapart 1316. A response start bit 1312 representing the start position ofthe response is added to the first bit of the response, and a responseend bit 1317 representing the end position of the response is added tothe final bit of the response. Additionally, a direction bit 1313representing that the response is a signal output from the detachabledevice 100 to the image capturing apparatus 110 is also added after theresponse start bit 1312. In the response argument part 1315, pieces ofinformation such as the status of the SD card are stored in accordancewith the command type.

A method of transmitting/receiving data between the arithmeticprocessing unit 203 and the detachable device 100 will be describednext. In the SD I/F unit 205, data transfer is performed on a blockbasis in both data write and read.

The following two methods are used by the arithmetic processing unit 203to transfer the data of a plurality of blocks to the detachable device100. In the first method, after the number of blocks is designated by ablock count designation command for transfer data, data of thedesignated number of blocks are transferred by a multi-write command. Inthe block count designation command, the number of blocks of write datais designated by the command argument part 1305. In the multi-writecommand, the address of the storage unit 404 at which the data should bewritten is designated by the command argument part 1305. In the secondmethod, data transfer is started by issuing a multi-write commandwithout issuing a block count designation command. When the datatransfer ends, a transfer stop command is issued, thereby ending theprocessing. At this time, the command argument part 1305 of themulti-write command designates only the address of the storage unit 404at which the data should be written. The arithmetic processing unit 203can arbitrarily switch the two write methods.

Note that when performing storage processing, the FPGA 402 directlyinputs a command and data sent from the arithmetic processing unit 203to the SD controller 403, and the SD controller 403 stores the receiveddata at the address of the storage unit 404 designated by the command.When performing image analysis processing, the FPGA 402 executesanalysis processing for data sent from the arithmetic processing unit203, and outputs the data of the processing result and information fordesignating a predetermined address of the storage unit 404 to the SDcontroller 403. The SD controller 403 stores the processing result atthe designated address of the storage unit.

The following two methods are used by the arithmetic processing unit 203to read out the data of a plurality of blocks from the detachable device100. In the first method, after the number of blocks is designated by ablock count designation command, a multi-read command is issued, anddata of the designated number of blocks are read out. In the block countdesignation command, the number of blocks of read data is designated bythe command argument part 1305. The command argument part 1305 of themulti-read command designates the address of the memory of the data readsource. In the second method, data read is started by issuing amulti-read command without issuing a block count designation command,and the processing is ended by issuing a transfer stop command. Thearithmetic processing unit 203 can arbitrarily switch the two readmethods.

Note that if write data or read data is data of one block, asingle-write command or a single-read command is issued, therebyexecuting data write or read without issuing a block count designationcommand and a transfer stop command. In the single-write command and thesingle-read command as well, the command argument part 1305 designatesthe address of the storage unit 404 of the access target, as in theabove description.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 performs write to the detachabledevice 100, thereby transmitting data as the target of storageprocessing or image analysis processing to the detachable device 100. Inaddition, the arithmetic processing unit 203 performs read from thedetachable device 100, thereby obtaining image data stored in thestorage unit 404, a processing result of image analysis processing, andthe information of the image analysis processing function held by thedetachable device 100.

The detachable device 100 according to this embodiment stores theinformation of a processing function held by the self-device at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404. The arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110 can confirm theinformation of a processing function held by the detachable device 100by issuing a multi-read command or a single-read command to the addressA. The information of a processing function here includes informationrepresenting whether the device holds the processing function, a timerequired until completion when the processing is executed, the data sizeof a processing result, and the information of an address at which theprocessing result is stored. FIG. 14 shows an example of the informationof processing functions. A processing function holding flag 1401represents that the detachable device 100 has image analysis processingfunctions. The image capturing apparatus 110 confirms the processingfunction holding flag 1401, thereby determining whether the detachabledevice 100 has image analysis processing functions. A processingfunction class 1402 represents analysis processing held by thedetachable device 100. An input data size 1403 and a processing datacount 1404 represent information concerning the data inputspecifications of each processing function. An estimated processing time1405 represents a time needed from data into to processing resultoutput, and a processing result data count 1406 represents the number ofdata of a processing result. A processing result storage address 1407represents a location where the processing result is stored in thestorage unit 404. The arithmetic processing unit 203 reads out the dataat the address A of the storage unit 404 as shown in FIG. 14, therebyobtaining a processing function table as shown in FIG. 15.

If a read command to the address A is not issued by the arithmeticprocessing unit 203, the detachable device 100 judges that theself-device is a device that does not use an image analysis processingfunction. In this case, concerning data to be transferred, thedetachable device 100 can execute only storage processing for thestorage unit 404. Hence, for a device that does not need an imageanalysis processing function, the detachable device 100 can functiononly as a memory device. A method of storing the information ofprocessing functions at the specific address A of the storage unit 404has been described here. However, the present invention is not limitedto this. For example, the information of processing functions may beadded to the response argument part 1315 in a response to a command thatis used at the time of initialization of the detachable device 100.

Note that the image capturing apparatus 110 executes read of the addressA of the storage unit 404, for example, after the end of initializationof the detachable device 100. In addition, the image capturing apparatus110 discards the read information if the device is not detected in thesocket any more. If the device is inserted into the socket after theinformation is discarded, the image capturing apparatus 110 reads outthe value of the address A again after the end of initialization. Hence,if a different detachable device is inserted, the image capturingapparatus 110 can read and set the information of functions held by thedetachable device.

(Switching Control Between Storage Processing and Image AnalysisProcessing)

A method of automatically switching between storage processing and imageanalysis processing by the detachable device 100 will be described next.This processing is automatic determination processing of determiningwhether the detachable device 100 directly stores image data receivedfrom the image capturing apparatus 110 or performs image analysisprocessing for the image data. In an example, the image capturingapparatus 110 transmits a special command, thereby controlling which oneof storage of image data transmitted to the detachable device 100 andimage analysis processing for the image data should be executed by thedetachable device 100. However, it is not easy to define such a specialcommand because of the standard the detachable device 100 complies with.Hence, in this embodiment, processing to be executed by the detachabledevice 100 can be switched by the following method without defining aspecial command. Note that in the following processing example,communication between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 is performed by a method complying with the SDstandard. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Thatis, processing similar to processing to be described below can beexecuted using a command or the like according to a predeterminedstandard the detachable device 100 complies with.

[Control Based on Transfer Data Amount]

FIG. 16 shows an example of the procedure of control of automaticallyswitching between storage processing and image analysis processing basedon the number of data blocks to be transferred to the detachable device100.

First, the arithmetic processing unit 203 of the image capturingapparatus 110 issues a write command complying with the SD standard tothe detachable device 100, and transfers data (step S1601). The FPGA 402of the detachable device 100 determines whether the number of blocks ofthe data written by the arithmetic processing unit 203 matches the dataamount at the time of execution of image analysis processing (stepS1602). The FPGA 402 can identify the number of blocks of data byconfirming the number of data blocks described in the command argumentpart 1305 of a block count designation command. If the block countdesignation command is not issued, the FPGA 402 may identify the numberof blocks of data by counting the number of blocks transferred until adata transfer stop command is issued.

If the number of blocks of the data written by the arithmetic processingunit 203 matches the data amount at the time of execution of imageanalysis processing (YES in step S1602), the FPGA 402 executes imageanalysis processing for the transferred data (step S1603). The FPGA 402obtains the processing result (step S1604), issues a write command tothe SD controller 403, and stores the obtained processing result at theprocessing result storage address 1407 of the storage unit 404 accordingto the class of the analysis processing (step S1605). On the other hand,if the number of blocks of the data written by the arithmetic processingunit 203 does not match the data amount at the time of execution ofimage analysis processing (NO in step S1602), the transferred data isdirectly stored in the storage unit 404 (step S1606). For example, theFPGA 402 issues a command similar to the write command issued by thearithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403, and directlytransfers the transferred data. The SD controller 403 stores thetransferred data at the address of the storage unit 404 designated bythe write command.

The detachable device 100 holds information as shown in FIG. 15 at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404, and recognizes that, forexample, the number of input data when executing analysis processing Ais 20 blocks. For this reason, if the number of blocks of data writtenby the arithmetic processing unit 203 is 20 blocks, the FPGA 402executes the analysis processing A, and otherwise, does not execute theanalysis processing A. Note that the FPGA 402 may change the executiontarget analysis processing in accordance with the number of input blockssuch that, for example, if the number of blocks of data written by thearithmetic processing unit 203 is 40 blocks, the FPGA 402 executesanalysis processing C.

[Control Based on Write Address]

FIG. 17 shows an example of the procedure of control of switchingbetween storage processing and image analysis processing based on awrite address designated by the command argument part 1305 of a writecommand. In this processing as well, the arithmetic processing unit 203of the image capturing apparatus 110 issues a write command to the SDcontroller 403 (step S1701). The FPGA 402 determines whether a writeaddress designated by the command argument part 1305 and representing aninformation storage destination in the storage unit 404 matches theprocessing result storage address 1407 shown in FIG. 14 (step S1702). Ifthe write address designated by the command argument part 1305 matchesthe processing result storage address 1407 (YES in step S1702), the FPGA402 executes image analysis processing corresponding to the address forthe transferred data (step S1703). The FPGA 402 obtains the processingresult (step S1704), issues a write command to the SD controller 403,and stores the obtained processing result at the processing resultstorage address 1407 of the storage unit 404 (step S1705). On the otherhand, if the write address designated by the command argument part 1305does not match the processing result storage address 1407 (NO in stepS1702), the FPGA 402 directly stores the transferred data in the storageunit 404 (step S1706). For example, the FPGA 402 issues a commandsimilar to the write command issued by the arithmetic processing unit203 to the SD controller 403, and directly transfers the transferreddata. The SD controller 403 stores the transferred data at the addressof the storage unit 404 designated by the write command.

The detachable device 100 holds information as shown in FIG. 15 at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404, and recognizes that, forexample, an analysis result storage address at the time of execution ofthe analysis processing A should be 0xFFFFFFFF. For this reason, if thewrite address designated by the command obtained from the arithmeticprocessing unit 203 is 0xFFFFFFFF, the FPGA 402 executes the analysisprocessing A, and otherwise, does not execute the analysis processing A.Note that the FPGA 402 may change the execution target analysisprocessing in accordance with the write address designated by thecommand such that, for example, if the write address designated by thecommand obtained from the arithmetic processing unit 203 is 0xEEEEEEEE,the FPGA 402 executes analysis processing C.

As described above, the detachable device 100 can determine, based onthe number of blocks or the write destination address of data written bythe arithmetic processing unit 203, whether to perform image analysisprocessing or directly store the data. Note that the detachable device100 may determine, in accordance with the combination of the number ofblocks and the write destination address of data written by thearithmetic processing unit 203, whether to perform image analysisprocessing or directly store the data. For example, if both the numberof blocks and the write destination address of data match the processingdata count 1404 and the processing result storage address 1407, imageanalysis processing may be executed. In addition, if at least one of thenumber of blocks and the write destination address of data does notmatch the processing data count 1404 or the processing result storageaddress 1407 of any image analysis processing, storage processing can beexecuted.

With the above-described processing, the detachable device 100 canperform image analysis processing for data for which image analysisprocessing should be executed and store data that should be storedwithout executing image analysis processing without introducing anadditional procedure for instructing whether to execute image analysisprocessing. Since this can prevent the system from becoming complex andobviate the necessity of executing an additional procedure, imageanalysis processing can quickly be started.

Note that the processing shown in FIG. 17 may be executed in combinationwith the processing shown in FIG. 16. That is, if the number of blocksof image data and the storage destination address of information arevalues associated with image analysis processing, the image analysisprocessing may be executed.

Note that when performing image analysis processing, not only theprocessing result but also the transferred data as the target ofanalysis processing may be stored together in an area of the storageunit 404 different from the processing result storage address 1407.Additionally, in the above-described control, if the detachable device100 has a plurality of image analysis processing functions, the type ofimage analysis processing to be executed may be determined in accordancewith the number of write blocks or the write address of data. Forexample, if the number of blocks or the write destination address ofdata matches the processing data count 1404 or the processing resultstorage address 1407 for certain image analysis processing of theplurality of image analysis processing functions, the image analysisprocessing can be executed.

[Control Based on Command]

FIG. 18 shows an example of the procedure of control of switchingbetween storage processing and image analysis processing based on acommand. In the SD standard, a first protocol that writes data after ablock count designation command is issued, and a second protocol thatwrites data without issuing a block count designation command areprovided as protocols when writing data. Note that the second protocolissues a data transfer stop command when ending data write. In thisprocessing example, image analysis processing is executed based on datatransmission by the first protocol, and when data is transmitted by thesecond protocol, storage processing of storing image data in the storageunit 404 is executed without executing image analysis processing. Hence,the FPGA 402 of the detachable device 100 determines, depending onwhether a block count designation command is issued for transmission ofimage data, whether to execute image analysis processing.

In this processing as well, first, the arithmetic processing unit 203 ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 issues a write command to thedetachable device 100, and transfers data (step S1801). Here, the FPGA402 of the detachable device 100 determines whether a block countdesignation command is issued (step S1802). If a block count designationcommand is issued (YES in step S1802), the FPGA 402 executes imageanalysis processing for the transferred data (step S1803), and obtainsthe processing result (step S1804). The FPGA 402 designates apredetermined processing result storage address according to the classof analysis processing shown in FIG. 14 and issues a write command tothe SD controller 403, thereby storing the data of the processing resultin the storage unit 404 (step S1805). If a block count designationcommand is not issued (NO in step S1802), the FPGA 402 issues a writecommand similar to the command issued by the arithmetic processing unit203 to the SD controller 403. The FPGA 402 directly transmits thetransferred data to the SD controller 403. The SD controller 403 storesthe data at the address of the storage unit 404 designated by the writecommand from the FPGA 402 (step S1806).

Note that the block count designation command may be anotherpredetermined command. That is, a predetermined command serving as atrigger to execute image analysis processing is set in advance, and theFPGA 402 executes image analysis processing for input image data basedon at least reception of the predetermined command. Alternatively,another information capable of identifying the protocol to be used maybe used. Note that, for example, upon receiving a predetermined command,the FPGA 402 may execute the processing shown in FIG. 16 or 17 todetermine whether to execute image analysis processing for input imagedata.

As described above, by instructing execution of image analysisprocessing by a command such as a block count designation command, theimage capturing apparatus 110 can instruct processing to be executed bythe detachable device 100 within the range of the protocol complyingwith the SD standard.

It can be said that at least a part of the above-described processing isprocessing of determining whether to execute image analysis processingdepending on whether a command complying with the SD standard fortransmission of image data includes a value associated with imageanalysis processing executable by the FPGA 402. That is, in theprocessing shown in FIG. 16, image analysis processing is executed when“23” is stored in the command number part 1304, and a value indicating apredetermined number of blocks is stored in the command argument part1305. In the processing shown in FIG. 17, image analysis processing isexecuted when a value indicating a processing result storage address isstored in the command argument part 1305. In the processing shown inFIG. 18, image analysis processing is executed when “23” is stored inthe command number part 1304. As described above, by setting thecontents of the command at the time of transmission of image data to apredetermined value associated with image analysis processing, it ispossible to flexibly control, using a command complying with the SDstandard, which one of image analysis processing and storage processingshould be executed by the FPGA 402.

(Read of Processing Result)

A method of reading out, by the image capturing apparatus 110, theprocessing result of image analysis processing stored in the detachabledevice 100 will be described next. The arithmetic processing unit 203designates the processing result storage address 1407 shown in FIG. 14in the detachable device 100, and issues a read command to read out dataas many as the processing result data count 1406 of each analysisprocessing. The SD controller 403 receives the read command via the FPGA402, and outputs the data of the processing result stored at thedesignated address of the storage unit 404 to the arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110. This allows the imagecapturing apparatus 110 to obtain the processing result of imageanalysis processing.

(Presentation of Information to User and Acceptance of User Selection)

Examples of presentation of a captured image, an integrated processinglist, and post-processing list to the user and a method of acceptinguser selection will be described. FIG. 19 shows an example of screendisplay of a captured image, an integrated processing list, and apost-processing list via the display unit 703. By the display screen,for example, a user interface 1901 is displayed. The user interface 1901includes, for example, a captured image display area 1902, an integratedprocessing list display area 1903, and a post-processing list displayarea 1904. The user confirms these areas, thereby ascertaining thecaptured image, the integrated processing list, and the post-processinglist.

Note that the list to be displayed is not limited to only the integratedprocessing list. For example, the image capturing apparatus 110 canstore a second processing list for a certain detachable device 100 inthe storage unit 303 and transmit the second processing list stored inthe storage unit 303 to the input/output apparatus 130 even if thedetachable device 100 is not mounted. That is, the image capturingapparatus 110 may output the second processing list for the detachabledevice 100 mounted in the past. In this case, the input/output apparatus130 can display analysis processing that is included in the secondprocessing list but not in the integrated processing list in a gray-outstate as analysis processing that is enabled by mounting the detachabledevice 100. It is therefore possible to promote the user to mount thedetachable device 100 in the image capturing apparatus 110 to make theprocessing in the gray-out state executable. Additionally, for example,if the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 haveidentical processing functions, these can be integrated and displayed asone process. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 candetermine which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 executes the processing. This determination methodwill be described later.

Note that the input/output apparatus 130 may display analysis processingand post-processing displayed for the user such that the user canidentify which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 should perform each processing. For example, whencreating an integrated processing list, the image capturing apparatus110 makes the integrated processing list include informationrepresenting which one of the first processing list and the secondprocessing list includes each analysis processing included in theintegrated processing list. In accordance with the informationrepresenting which one of the first processing list and the secondprocessing list includes each analysis processing included in theintegrated processing list, the input/output apparatus 130 displays eachanalysis processing while changing the character color. This allows theuser to confirm whether each processing is processing executable even ifthe detachable device 100 is removed. Note that if the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can execute identicalprocesses, and these are integrated and displayed as one process, thisprocess can be displayed in a character color corresponding to the imagecapturing apparatus 110. This is because the process can be executedeven if the detachable device 100 is removed. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and processing may be displayed in acharacter color representing that it is processing executable by boththe image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100.

In addition, if processing that is executable when the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 cooperate is included in theintegrated processing list, for the processing, information representingthe necessity of cooperation may be included in the integratedprocessing list. In this case, processing implemented when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 cooperate may bedisplayed in a still another character color. For example, faceauthentication processing can be implemented by a function group of aface detection processing function, a face characteristic extractionprocessing function, and a face characteristic collation processingfunction. It is assumed that the image capturing apparatus 110 has theface detection processing function and the face characteristicextraction processing function, and the detachable device 100 has theface characteristic collation processing function. In this case, on theuser interface 1901, for example, the face detection processing and theface characteristic extraction processing are displayed by bluecharacters, the face characteristic collation processing is displayed byred characters, and the face authentication processing is displayed bygreen characters.

Note that changing the character color is merely a form configured todisplay the functions such that which one of the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 should execute the functionsor whether a function is executed by cooperation of these can bedistinguished. Such distinguishable display may be done by another form.For example, the execution constituent of processing may explicitly bedisplayed by changing the background color of each processing. Inaddition, the difference of the execution constituent may be indicatedby a character string. For example, a character string indicating theimage capturing apparatus 110 can be added after a character stringindicating processing to be executed by the image capturing apparatus110, and a character string indicating the detachable device 100 can beadded after a character string indicating processing to be executed bythe detachable device 100. To a character string indicating processingimplemented by cooperation of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, a character string indicating cooperation of theimage capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can beadded. As described above, the image capturing apparatus 110 provides,to the input/output apparatus 130, information representing processesincluded in the first processing list and processes included in thesecond processing list in a distinguishable manner, thereby causing thedisplay unit 703 of the input/output apparatus 130 to display theexecution constituent of each process in a distinguishable manner. Evenif the image capturing apparatus 110 includes a display unit, theexecution constituent of each process can be displayed in adistinguishable manner by preparing information representing processesincluded in the first processing list and processes included in thesecond processing list in a distinguishable manner. That is, byoutputting the information representing processes included in the firstprocessing list and processes included in the second processing list ina distinguishable manner, the image capturing apparatus 110 can cause anarbitrary display device to display the execution constituent of eachprocess in a distinguishable manner.

The user can select execution target processing from the integratedprocessing list displayed in the integrated processing list display area1903 of the user interface 1901 via the operation unit 704. In addition,the user can select execution target post-processing from the processinglist displayed in the post-processing list display area 1904 via theoperation unit 704. For example, FIG. 19 shows an example in which theuser selects “face detection” processing as execution target analysisprocessing, and selects “display” and “storage” as execution targetpost-processing. Note that in this embodiment, an example in which onlyone execution target processing is selected is shown. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The system may be configuredto allow the user to select a plurality of execution target processes.For example, in addition to “face detection”, at least one of “humanbody detection” and “vehicle detection” may be selected. If one processis selected, selection of another process may be inhibited. As anexample, if “human body detection” is selected in a state in which “facedetection” is selected in the integrated processing list display area1903 shown in FIG. 19, selection of “face detection” may be canceled.FIG. 19 shows an example in which both of two post-processes areselected. However, only one of them may be selectable.

Based on the selection of execution target processing andpost-processing by the user, the image capturing apparatus 110 isnotified of the selection result in step S1007 of FIG. 10. In addition,the control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 may confirm thestate of user selection for every predetermined period and notify theimage capturing apparatus 110 of execution target processing dependingon which processing is selected as the execution target. That is, theprocesses of steps S1005 to S1007 may periodically be executed, orselection in steps S1005 and S1006 may always be monitored, and theprocess of step S1007 may be executed when the selection state haschanged.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a method of displaying information in stepS1203 in a case in which “face detection” is selected as the executiontarget processing, and “display” is selected as the execution targetpost-processing. In this example, the number 2001 of persons detected byface detection processing is displayed as the result of analysisprocessing on the screen of the user interface 1901 shown in FIG. 19.Note that FIG. 20 is merely an example, and the result of processing maybe displayed separately from the user interface 1901, and the result ofprocessing may be displayed in another area of the user interface 1901.

In addition, a priority may be set for each of the execution targetprocessing and post-processing selected by the user. For example, if aplurality of execution target processes exist, and priorities are set,the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 executesprocessing (for example, the processes of steps S1103 to SI 107) shownin FIG. 11 for each execution target process in the order of priorities.Note that the calculation resource or network resource on the side ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 may be assigned based on the priority.For example, a process of high priority may be executed for a video forevery first predetermined number of frames, and a process of lowpriority may be executed for the video for every second predeterminednumber of frames, which is larger than the first predetermined number offrames. That is, the frequency of executing processing may be determinedby priority. In addition, the frequency of transmitting the result ofprocessing of high priority to the input/output apparatus 130 may behigher than the frequency of transmitting the result of processing oflow priority to the input/output apparatus 130.

(Processing of Determining Processing Allocation Between Image CapturingApparatus and Detachable Device)

When a plurality of processes are combined, a predetermined process maybecome executable. For example, face authentication processing can beexecuted by combining three processes, that is, face detectionprocessing, face characteristic extraction processing, and facecharacteristic collation processing. If the image capturing apparatus110 and the detachable device 100 can execute at least one of the threeprocesses, the processes can be allocated between the apparatuses andexecuted. Additionally, in the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, for example, for at least one of the threeprocesses described above, different processing functions suitable foreach condition such as a condition (for example, an image capturingcondition) under which data as the processing target is obtained or ananalysis target can be prepared. For example, different processingfunctions may be prepared for processing for an image captured indaytime and processing for an image captured in nighttime. For example,as shown in FIG. 21, the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 are configured to have the face detectionprocessing function, the face characteristic extraction processingfunction, and the face characteristic collation processing function andexecute face authentication processing. Note that even if the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 have the samefunctions, suitable conditions to use them can be different. Inaddition, each of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 may have a plurality of processing functions capable ofexecuting similar processes, like the detachable device 100 shown inFIG. 21, which has two face characteristic extraction processingfunctions. Accordingly, when processing is appropriately allocatedbetween the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100,processing suitable for various conditions can be executed.

Note that even if the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 perform the same processing, advantages and disadvantagesoccur because of the difference in the arrangement. For example,concerning the operation accuracy, the arithmetic processing unit 203 ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 can be advantageous because the bitwidth with respect to data is large. Concerning the operation speed, thedetachable device 100 can be advantageous because the operation isperformed by the logic circuit on the FPGA 402. If there exist aplurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing, it is advantageous to select an appropriate processingfunction based on the environment of image capturing of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. Considering such circumstances, if thedetachable device 100 has a processing function, it is important toappropriately determine whether to actually use the processing functionand appropriately select a processing function to be used. Hence, amethod of automatically selecting whether to cause the detachable device100 to execute processing, whether to cause the image capturingapparatus 110 to execute processing, or whether to cause the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 to cooperativelyexecute processing will be described below. In addition, a method ofautomatically selecting a processing function to be used by, forexample, determining which one of a plurality of processing functionsshould be used in a case in which the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 have a plurality of processing functionscapable of executing the same processing will also be described. Notethat three processing examples will individually be described below, andthese may be used in combination.

First Processing Example

The first processing example of selecting a processing function to beused will be described with reference to FIG. 22. In this example, tosatisfy performance necessary for performing image analysis processing,a processing function to be used is selected from processing functionsprovided in the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device100. For example, this processing can be executed in a case in whichthere is a condition that, for example, processing needs to be performedat a predetermined frame rate or higher, and both the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can execute the sameprocessing.

In this processing, first, the user selects execution target processingvia, for example, the user interface 1901 shown in FIG. 19 on theinput/output apparatus 130 (step S2201). Based on the user selection,the control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 transmits anexecution instruction command for the execution target processing to theimage capturing apparatus 110. The control unit 304 of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 obtains the execution instruction commandrepresenting the selected process from the input/output apparatus 130.Note that if the image capturing apparatus 110 has an informationpresentation function of presenting executable processing and anoperation acceptance function of causing the user to make a selection,the user may directly operate the image capturing apparatus 110 andinstruct the execution target processing to the control unit 304 of theimage capturing apparatus 110.

The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 confirmsprocessing performance needed when executing the selected processing(step S2202). As for the setting of the processing performance, a setvalue may be determined in advance for each processing, or the user mayset a target value when selecting processing. The control unit 304executes, in the image capturing apparatus 110, the processing selectedin step S2201 (step S2203). Note that this processing can be executed inparallel to image capturing. In addition, a function that exists only inthe detachable device 100 in the processing functions to be used whenexecuting the selected processing is executed by the detachable device100 but not executed in the image capturing apparatus 110.

During execution of the processing of after completion of processing ofa predetermined amount of data, the control unit 304 confirms whetherthe executed processing satisfies the processing performance set in stepS2202 (step S2204). Upon confirming that the processing performance issatisfied (YES in step S2204), the control unit 304 returns the processto step S2203 to directly continue the processing. On the other hand,upon confirming that the processing performance is not satisfied (NO instep S2204), the control unit 304 advances the process to step S2205 toattempt a change to a processing allocation capable of satisfying theprocessing performance.

In step S2205, concerning processing that is a part of the processingexecuted by the image capturing apparatus 110 and is executable even inthe detachable device 100, the execution constituent is changed to thedetachable device 100. Since processes executable by the detachabledevice 100 are ascertained, the control unit 304 of the image capturingapparatus 110 selects processing to be transferred to the detachabledevice 100 from the list (second processing list) of processes andchanges the execution constituent of the processing. When the change iscompleted, the processing selected in step S2201 is allocated to thecontrol unit 304 and the analysis unit 501 and executed (step S2206).After that, the control unit 304 confirms whether to return theprocessing function from the detachable device 100 to the imagecapturing apparatus 110 (step S2207). When the processing is returned tothe image capturing apparatus 110, the processing can be executed at ahigher operation accuracy.

If, for example, the reason why it is determined in step S2204 that theprocessing performance cannot be satisfied is a temporary high loadstate or the like, and the state is eliminated, the control unit 304 candetermine that the process can be returned to the image capturingapparatus 110. That is, the control unit 304 can determine, based on theprocessing load of the image capturing apparatus 110, which one of theimage capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 shouldexecute the processing. Note that in addition to causing the detachabledevice 100 to execute processing in a state in which the processing loadof the image capturing apparatus 110 is high, as described above, theimage capturing apparatus 110 may be caused to execute processing in astate in which the processing load of the detachable device 100 is high.That is, which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 should execute processing may be determined basedon the processing load of the detachable device 100.

Additionally, if, for example, the target value of the processingperformance is lowered by the user, the control unit 304 can determinethat the processing can be returned to the image capturing apparatus110. Upon determining to return the processing to the image capturingapparatus 110 (YES in step S2207), the control unit 304 changes theexecution constituent of the part of the processing, which has beenexecuted by the detachable device 100, to the image capturing apparatus110 (step S2208). Note that the processing whose execution constituentis returned to the image capturing apparatus 110 in step S2208 may be apart or whole of the processing whose execution constituent was changedto the detachable device 100 in step S2205. After the executionconstituent of at least the part of the processing is returned to theimage capturing apparatus 110, the control unit 304 returns the processto step S2203. On the other hand, upon determining not to return theprocessing to the image capturing apparatus 110 (NO in step S2207), thecontrol unit 304 returns the process to step S2206 and continues theprocessing without changing the processing allocation.

Note that in a case in which the detachable device 100 has a pluralityof processing functions capable of executing the same processing, if theprocessing performance cannot be satisfied after the executionconstituent of the part of the processing is transferred to thedetachable device 100, the processing function may be switched to theprocessing function for executing the same function. That is, in stepS2207, instead of switching the execution constituent of the processing,the processing function to be used may be changed while keeping thedetachable device 100 as the execution constituent.

In addition, even after the execution constituent of the part of theprocessing is transferred to the detachable device 100, if theprocessing performance confirmed in step S2202 cannot be satisfied, thecontrol unit 304 may return the execution constituent of the processingto the image capturing apparatus 110. At this time, the control unit 304can store information representing the processing performance confirmedin step S2202 as the information of the processing performance thatcannot be satisfied by the current mounted detachable device 100. Ifsimilar processing performance or stricter processing performance isrequired, the control unit 304 may not cause the detachable device 100to execute the processing. Similarly, for example, even in a situationin which the processing load of the image capturing apparatus 110 issufficiently small, if the processing performance confirmed in stepS2202 cannot be satisfied, the information of the processing performancemay be stored. In this case, in the subsequent processing, if the storedprocessing performance or stricter processing performance is confirmedin step S2202, the control unit 304 may transfer the executionconstituent of a part of the processing on the detachable device 100without executing the process of step S2203.

According to the first processing example, processing functions providedin the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 areselected, and processing is allocated between the apparatuses andexecuted to satisfy required processing performance. This makes itpossible to perform appropriate processing allocation in accordancewith, for example, the state of the image capturing apparatus 110 andmaintain satisfactory processing performance.

Second Processing Example

The second processing example of selecting a processing function to beused will be described next with reference to FIG. 23. This processingis executed when selecting a processing function to be used in a case inwhich the detachable device 100 has a plurality of processing functionscapable of executing the same processing. Note that this processing canbe executed in a case in which, for example, it is determined to causethe detachable device 100 to execute some processes in the firstprocessing example. That is, when the detachable device 100 executesprocessing, this processing can be used by the detachable device 100 todetermine which one of one or more processing functions capable ofexecuting the processing should be used. However, this is merely anexample, and processing allocation between the image capturing apparatus110 and the detachable device 100 may be determined by this processingexample. For example, if a plurality of processing functions capable ofexecuting the same processing exist in an integrated processing list inwhich processes executable by the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 are integrated, this processing example may beused to determine which one of the processing functions should be used.That is, if each of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 has one or more processing functions capable of executing thesame processing, this processing example can be used to determine whichprocessing function should be used to execute process in whichapparatus.

In this processing, first, as in step S2201 of FIG. 22, the user selectsexecution target processing on the input/output apparatus 130, and thecontrol unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 obtainsinformation representing the selected processing from the input/outputapparatus 130 (step S2301). The control unit 304 confirms the list(second processing list) of processes executable by the detachabledevice 100, and confirms, for the execution target processing, whether aplurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing exist (step S2302). Upon determining that only one processingfunction capable of executing the execution target processing exists (NOin step S2302), the control unit 304 executes the processing using theprocessing function (step S2303). On the other hand, upon determiningthat a plurality of processing functions capable of executing theexecution target processing exist (YES in step S2302), the control unit304 advances the process to step S2304 to execute the processing usingone of the plurality of processing functions.

In step S2304, the control unit 304 confirms the characteristic of eachof the plurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing that is the determination target of step S2302. Here,concerning, for example, face characteristic extraction, characteristicsrepresenting that a first processing function is suitable for processingan image of a relatively high brightness in daytime and a secondprocessing function is suitable for processing an image of a relativelylow brightness in nighttime are confirmed. After the difference betweenthe characteristics of the processing functions is confirmed, thecontrol unit 304 confirms the current environment in which the imagecapturing apparatus 110 is performing image capturing (step S2305).Based on the characteristic of each processing function obtained in stepS2304 and the information of the image capturing environment obtain instep S2305, the control unit 304 selects a processing function to beused in actual analysis processing (step S2306), and executes analysisprocessing using the selected processing function (step S2307).

Here, the confirmation of the image capturing environment can be donebased on, for example, the internal clock of the image capturingapparatus 110 or the distribution of brightness values of an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, if theinternal clock indicates a nighttime zone, a processing functionsuitable for processing an image of a relatively low brightness value isselected. If the brightness values of the captured image localize on thelow brightness side, a processing function suitable for processing animage of a relatively low brightness value is selected. Alternatively,the distribution of evaluation values of detection accuracy for abrightness value may be prepared for each processing function and, forexample, a processing function for which the sum of values obtained bymultiplying and adding the frequency of each brightness value of acaptured image and a value indicating the detection accuracy of thebrightness value is most excellent may be selected. The confirmation ofthe image capturing environment may be done based on, for example, theinformation of the angle of view (pan/tilt/zoom) at the time of imagecapturing of the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, aprocessing function to be used is selected based on, for example, whichone of a dark area in a room or a bright area by a window is captured.Note that the characteristic of a processing function may be defined byan index other than the brightness value. For example, variouscharacteristics such as a high face extraction accuracy in an imageincluding a predetermined object such as a window or a high detectionaccuracy for an object that is moving at a high speed can be used as thereference of selection of a processing function to be used.Additionally, for example, each processing function may have acharacteristic representing that processing is performed at a high speedbut at a low accuracy or a characteristic representing that processingis performed relatively at a low speed but at a high accuracy. Asuitable processing function may be selected in accordance with aprocessing condition.

The control unit 304 confirms whether the image capturing environmenthas changed (step S2308). If the image capturing environment has changed(YES in step S2308), the control unit 304 executes the processing ofselecting a processing function suitable for the environment after thechange again (step S2306), and executes analysis processing by theselected processing function (step S2307). On the other hand, if theimage capturing environment has not changed (NO in step S2308), thecontrol unit 304 continues analysis processing without changing theprocessing function (step S2307).

According to this processing, it is possible to select a processingfunction suitable for the environment from a plurality of processingfunctions capable of executing the same processing and use theprocessing function. This makes it possible to selectively use anappropriate processing function for each environment from the viewpointof accuracy of processing or the like.

Third Processing Example

The third processing example of determining allocation of processingbetween the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100will be described next with reference to FIG. 24. In this processing,allocation of processing is determined based on whether processing canbe completed only by the combination of processing functions provided inthe detachable device 100.

In this processing, first, as in step S2201 of FIG. 22 or step S2301 ofFIG. 23, the user selects execution target processing on theinput/output apparatus 130, and the control unit 304 of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 obtains information representing the selectedprocessing from the input/output apparatus 130 (step S2401). The controlunit 304 determines whether the selected processing can be implemented(completed) only by the detachable device 100 (step S2402). Note thatthe control unit 304 can perform the determination of step S2402 basedon, for example, whether all functions of the selected processing can besatisfied by the combinations of processing functions provided in thedetachable device 100 or whether a processing result can be stored inthe detachable device 100. For example, if all functions of the selectedprocessing can be satisfied by the combinations of the processingfunctions provided in the detachable device 100, and the processingresult can be stored in the detachable device 100, the control unit 304determines that the processing can be completed only by the detachabledevice 100.

Upon determining that the selected processing cannot be completed onlyby the detachable device 100 (NO in step S2402), the control unit 304allocates the processing between the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 (step S2403). In this case, processingallocation in the first processing example and the second processingexample can be performed. Note that in this case, all processes may beexecuted by the image capturing apparatus 110, that is, use of theprocessing functions of the detachable device 100 may be inhibited. Onthe other hand, upon determining that the selected processing can becompleted only by the detachable device 100 (YES in step S2402), thecontrol unit 304 selects which processing function of the processingfunctions provided in the detachable device 100 should be used (stepS2404). Note that if the detachable device 100 has a plurality ofprocessing functions capable of executing the same processing, whichprocessing function should be used is selected as in the secondprocessing example. After that, the control unit 304 executes processingof causing the detachable device 100 to execute image analysisprocessing using the selected processing function (step S2405). Inaddition, the control unit 304 executes processing of storing, in thedetachable device 100, the result of performing image analysisprocessing in step S2405 (step S2406). These processes are executedusing, for example, commands of the SD standard. Note that in stepS2406, the result may be stored in the storage unit 404, or if a RAM isprovided in the FPGA 402, the result may be stored in the RAM.

In this processing example, if processing can be completed in thedetachable device 100, the detachable device 100 is caused to executethe processing. Accordingly, processing to be executed by the imagecapturing apparatus 110 is only image transmission to the detachabledevice 100, and the processing load can greatly be reduced.

In the above-described way, functions executable on the side of theimage capturing apparatus 110 are increased using the detachable device100, thereby enhancing processing functions in the system. For example,when a latest processing function is implemented in the detachabledevice 100, image analysis processing by the latest processing functioncan be executed on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 withoutreplacing the image capturing apparatus 110. This can flexibly operatethe system and improve the convenience.

(Processing of Obtaining Communication Specifications)

FIG. 25 shows an example of the procedure of processing of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 to obtain, from the detachable device 100,communication specifications used to perform communication complyingwith an existing predetermined communication standard with thedetachable device 100. This processing corresponds to a part of theprocessing of step S802 shown in FIG. 8. Note that in the followingdescription, the communication specifications obtained by the imagecapturing apparatus 110 are stored in the storage unit 404. However, thecommunication specifications may be stored in a storage area separatelyprepared in the detachable device 100.

First, the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110controls the device communication unit 306 to issue, to the mounteddevice, a read request (read command) to a specified address at whichthe communication specifications are stored. The image capturingapparatus 110 receives a response to the request, thereby obtaining theinformation of communication specifications stored at the specificaddress (step S2501). Note that the communication specifications readrequest can be done using, for example, a general-purpose read commandthat need not separately be defined. However, the command is not limitedto this, and a command defined exclusively for read of communicationspecifications may be used.

Next, the control unit 304 specifies one or more commands included inthe obtained information of communication specifications and processingcontents corresponding to the commands (step S2502). FIG. 26 shows anexample of commands included in the information of communicationspecifications and processing contents corresponding to the commands. Inan example, if the information of communication specifications isconfigured as shown in FIG. 26, the control unit 304 reads “processingcontents”, “number of commands”, and combinations of “command numbers”and “command arguments” according to the number of commands. The numberof commands represents the number of commands to be transmitted forcorresponding processing contents. For example, in “image analysisprocessing execution”, since the number of commands is “1”, aninstruction concerning image analysis processing execution is completedby transmitting one command. On the other hand, in “processing functionselection”, since the number of commands is “2”, an instructionconcerning processing function selection is not completed until twocommands are transmitted.

In FIG. 26, the values “1” and “2” associated with the combination ofthe “command number” and the “command argument” each indicate the orderof a command sequence transmitted in correspondence with eachprocessing. That is, the “command number” and the “command argument”associated with the value “1” indicate information about the firstcommand transmitted/received first concerning corresponding processing.In addition, the “command number” and the “command argument” associatedwith the value “2” indicate information about the second commandtransmitted/received concerning corresponding processing. For example,the “command number” associated with the value “1” concerning “imageanalysis processing execution” is “23”, and the “command argument” is“A”. In “image analysis processing execution”, since the number ofcommands is 1, a “command number” and a “command argument” associatedwith the value “2” do not exist. For this reason, the control unit 304transmits a command in which “23” is stored in the command number part1304, and “A” is stored in the command argument part 1305 to thedetachable device 100, thereby instructing the detachable device 100 toexecute image analysis processing. In addition, the “command number”associated with the value “1” concerning “processing function selection”is “39”, and the “command argument” is “B”. The “command number”associated with the value “2” is “31”, and the “command argument” is anaddress value. The address value is an address used to designate an areawhere the configuration of the processing function to be selected isstored in the storage unit 404. In “processing function selection”,since the number of commands is 2, “command numbers” and “commandarguments” associated with values from the value “3” (not shown) do notexist. For this reason, a command sequence formed by the above-describedtwo commands is used as the selection commands for the processingfunction to be executed in the detachable device 100. Note that the“processing function selection” command can be used when, for example,the detachable device 100 has a plurality of image analysis processingfunctions, and one of them can selectively be used.

Referring back to FIG. 25, the control unit 304 registers each commandand processing contents corresponding to the commands in the devicecommunication unit 306 (step S2503). The control unit 304 determines,for all commands included in the information of communicationspecifications, whether specifying and registration of processingcontents corresponding to the commands are completed (step S2504). Upondetermining that specifying and registration for all the commandsincluded in the information of communication specifications are notcompleted (NO in step S2504), the control unit 304 returns to step S2502to continue specifying and registration of commands. On the other hand,upon determining that specifying and registration for all the commandsincluded in the information of communication specifications arecompleted (YES in step S2504), the control unit 304 ends the processing.

When communicating with the detachable device 100 via the devicecommunication unit 306, the image capturing apparatus 110 executescommunication based on the communication specifications registered bythe processing shown in FIG. 25. For example, to instruct the detachabledevice 100 to execute image analysis processing, the image capturingapparatus 110 issues a command in which “23” is included in the commandnumber part 1304, and “A” is included in the command argument part 1305.

Note that here, the information of communication specifications includesprocessing contents, the number of commands, and combinations of commandnumbers and command arguments according to the number of commands.However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, theinformation of communication specifications can be configured inaccordance with a predetermined standard used for communication. Forexample, if a command argument does not exist in the predeterminedstandard, the information of communication specifications includescommand numbers corresponding to the number of commands but need notinclude the information of command arguments. In addition, theinformation of communication specifications may include commandspecifications other than the command structure defined by thepredetermined standard. For example, if a command requires waiting for apredetermined time after issuance of the command, the information ofcommunication specifications may include a wait time after the commandissuance. Also, in the predetermined standard, using an existing commandnumber associated with another general-purpose processing, a definitionof communication specifications for performing specific processing maybe included in the information of communication specifications. Theinformation of communication specifications can be definitioninformation that makes it possible to execute various kinds ofcommunications that are not defined in the predetermined standard(version) with which the image capturing apparatus 110 complies.

In the above-described way, the image capturing apparatus 110 receives,from the detachable device 100, the information of communicationspecifications used to perform predetermined communication with thedetachable device 100 in accordance with the existing communicationstandard. Here, as the information of communication specifications,definition information of a command added when the existingcommunication standard is upgraded or a locally added new command can beincluded. Hence, the image capturing apparatus 110 can performcommunication using the newly added command by a mode complying with theconventional standard without updating software. The above-describedexample shows an example in which a new command is defined forpredetermined communication concerning the image analysis processingfunction held by the detachable device 100. That is, a case in which themessage of the mode of the conventional standard is locally defined tomake communication suitable for the detachable device 100 executable bythe mode complying with the conventional standard has been described.However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, whenthe detachable device 100 is caused to hold the information of aprotocol newly defined by the SD standard as the information ofcommunication specifications, the new command can be used by the imagecapturing apparatus 110. Note that without needing to know whethercommands and the like defined by the received information ofcommunication specifications are locally defined, the image capturingapparatus 110 can use the communication specifications for communicationwith the detachable device 100. Note that, for example, every time theinformation of communication specifications is received, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 may delete the information of communicationspecifications held so far. This can prevent locally definedcommunication specifications from being erroneously used for anotherdevice. In addition, the image capturing apparatus 110 may store theinformation of communication specifications and the identificationinformation of the detachable device 100 in association with each other.When a device is mounted, the image capturing apparatus 110 can obtainthe identification information of the device and use communicationspecifications associated with the device unless the information ofcommunication specifications is newly obtained from the device. By theabove way, if the communication specifications of the detachable device100 are changed, or a command specific to the detachable device 100 isadded, the image capturing apparatus 110 can communicate with thedetachable device 100 without changing software.

(Processing of Obtaining Communication Specifications)

The information of communication specifications can be held in thedetachable device 100 at an arbitrary timing before execution of theinitial sequence of step S802 shown in FIG. 8. On the other hand, thecommunication specifications need to correspond to the circuitconfiguration (the input/output control unit 410 and the like) of theFPGA 402. Hence, in this embodiment, the information of communicationspecifications is provided to the detachable device 100 at a timing whensetting data including the information of the logic circuit structure ofthe FPGA 402 is held in the detachable device 100. Note that the timingwhen setting data including the information of the logic circuitstructure of the FPGA 402 is held in the detachable device 100 can be,for example, the manufacturing stage of the detachable device 100 or atiming when the circuit configuration of the FPGA 402 of the detachabledevice 100 is changed. Here, setting data including the information ofthe logic circuit structure is transferred from a PC (not shown) to thedetachable device 100. The detachable device 100 can be mounted in theimage capturing apparatus 110, for example, after receiving the settingdata transferred from the PC, and execute image analysis processing inthe above-described way based on the setting data. Note that the PCholds, in advance, the setting data of the FPGA 402 and communicationspecifications corresponding to a circuit configuration formed bydeploying the setting data in the detachable device 100. Note that here,the PC includes a mounting part configured to mount the detachabledevice 100, and the detachable device 100 is directly mounted in the PC.However, the present invention is not limited to this. The PC may be,for example, connected, via network, to the apparatus in which thedetachable device 100 is mounted and communicate with the detachabledevice 100.

FIG. 27 shows an example of the procedure of processing of the PC toregister the information of communication specifications in thedetachable device 100. First, the PC transfers setting data includingthe information of the logic circuit structure to the storage unit 404of the mounted detachable device 100 (step S2701). Note that at thistime, if setting data is already held in the storage unit 404 of thedetachable device 100, the held date is overwritten by the setting datatransferred from the PC. The PC reads out the information ofcommunication specifications held in the storage unit 404, and comparesit with the information of communication specifications corresponding tothe setting data transferred in step S2701 (step S2702). Upondetermining that the information of communication specificationscorresponding to the setting data is held (YES in step S2702), the PCdirectly ends the processing. On the other hand, upon determining thatthe information of communication specifications corresponding to thesetting data is not held (NO in step S2702), the PC transfers thecommunication specifications held in the PC to the storage unit 404(step S2703). Note that if the write speed of the storage unit 404 ishigh, or there is a margin in the rewrite count limitation, theinformation of communication specifications may always be transferredwithout performing the determination in step S2702. Alternatively, thePC may transfer the information of communication specifications withoutexecuting the determination in step S2702, and the detachable device 100may determine whether the held information of communicationspecifications matches the received information of communicationspecifications. If these pieces of information do not match, thedetachable device 100 may overwrite the received information ofcommunication specifications on the held information.

As described above, by the processing shown in FIG. 27, the informationof communication specifications necessary for the image capturingapparatus 110 to communicate with the detachable device 100 can betransferred at the time of transfer of setting data of the FPGA 402.Hence, the information of communication specifications corresponding tothe circuit configuration formed by deploying the setting data in thedetachable device 100 is held in the detachable device 100, and thedetachable device 100 can provide the information of appropriatecommunication specifications to the image capturing apparatus 110.

In the above-described embodiment, image analysis processing has beendescribed as an example of analysis processing. However, the presentinvention is also applicable to audio analysis processing. For example,the present invention can be applied to processing of detecting an audiopattern such as a scream, a gunshot, or glass breaking sound. Forexample, a characteristic amount of an audio is extracted by variousaudio data analysis methods such as spectrum analysis, and the extractedcharacteristic amount is compared with the detected audio pattern. Bycalculating the degree of matching, a specific audio pattern can bedetected.

When performing audio analysis processing, audio data is divided intoaudio data of a predetermined time, audio analysis processing isperformed using the audio data of the predetermined time as a unit. Inaddition, the predetermined time appropriately changes depending on theaudio pattern of the detection target. For this reason, audio data of atime corresponding to an audio pattern to be detected is input to thedetachable device 100. The detachable device 100 has a function ofanalyzing the input audio data or a function of holding the input audiodata.

In the above-described embodiment, the detachable device 100 capable ofnon-temporarily storing data input from the image capturing apparatus110 has been described as an example. However, in some embodiments, thedetachable device 100 that cannot non-temporarily store data input fromthe image capturing apparatus 110 may be used. That is, the detachabledevice 100 may only perform analysis processing for data input from theimage capturing apparatus 110, and need not have the function ofnon-temporarily storing the data. In other words, the detachable device100 may not be assumed to be used to store data, like a normal SD card,and may have only the function of analysis processing.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-061111, filed Mar. 30, 2020 which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: amounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holdingat least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capableof communicating with the mounted device in accordance with apredetermined standard; an obtaining unit configured to obtain, from thedevice, information of communication specifications used to performpredetermined communication, in accordance with the predeterminedstandard, with the device mounted in the mounting part; and acommunication unit configured to perform, using the obtained informationof the communication specifications, the predetermined communicationwith the device mounted in the mounting part in accordance with thepredetermined standard.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined communication includes communication concerning aprocessing function including image analysis processing by the devicemounted in the mounting part.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the predetermined communication includes communicationconcerning a protocol newly defined in the predetermined standard. 4.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information of thecommunication specifications includes information that defines one of acommand and a command sequence used to perform the predeterminedcommunication by a mode of the predetermined standard.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the information of the communicationspecifications includes information that defines one of the command andthe command sequence for each of one or more of the predeterminedcommunications.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theobtaining unit obtains the information of the communicationspecifications from the device mounted in the mounting part by thecommunication according to the predetermined standard.
 7. A devicemounted in a mounting part of an image capturing apparatus including themounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holdingat least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capableof communicating with the mounted device in accordance with apredetermined standard, comprising: a providing unit configured toprovide, to the image capturing apparatus, information of communicationspecifications used to perform predetermined communication with theimage capturing apparatus in accordance with the predetermined standard;and a communication unit configured to perform, using the providedinformation of the communication specifications, the predeterminedcommunication with the image capturing apparatus in accordance with thepredetermined standard.
 8. The device according to claim 7, furthercomprising a processing unit capable of configuring a circuitcorresponding to a processing function including image analysisprocessing.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein thepredetermined communication includes communication concerning theprocessing function to which the circuit configured by the processingunit corresponds.
 10. The device according to claim 8, furthercomprising an obtaining unit configured to obtain information concerningsetting of a configuration of a circuit of the processing unit and theinformation of the communication specifications corresponding to theinformation concerning the setting.
 11. The device according to claim10, wherein the obtaining unit obtains the information of thecommunication specifications corresponding to the information concerningthe setting when obtaining the information concerning the setting. 12.The device according to claim 10, further comprising a holding unitconfigured to hold the information concerning the setting and theinformation of the communication specifications corresponding to theinformation concerning the setting.
 13. The device according to claim12, wherein the obtaining unit obtains the information of thecommunication specifications if the information of the communicationspecifications corresponding to the obtained information concerning thesetting is not held in the holding unit.
 14. The device according toclaim 12, wherein the holding unit can hold an image captured by theimage capturing apparatus.
 15. The device according to claim 7, whereinthe predetermined communication includes communication concerning aprotocol newly defined in the predetermined standard.
 16. The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the information of the communicationspecifications includes information that defines one of a command and acommand sequence used to perform the predetermined communication by amode of the predetermined standard.
 17. The device according to claim16, w % herein the information of the communication specificationsincludes information that defines one of the command and the commandsequence for each of one or more of the predetermined communications.18. The device according to claim 7, wherein the providing unit providesthe information of the communication specifications to the imagecapturing apparatus by the communication according to the predeterminedstandard.
 19. A communication method executed by an image capturingapparatus, wherein the image capturing apparatus includes a mountingpart capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holding at leastan image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capable ofcommunicating with the mounted device in accordance with a predeterminedstandard, wherein the method comprises: obtaining, from the device,information of communication specifications used to performpredetermined communication, in accordance with the predeterminedstandard, with the device mounted in the mounting part; and performing,using the obtained information of the communication specifications, thepredetermined communication with the device mounted in the mounting partin accordance with the predetermined standard.
 20. A communicationmethod executed by a device mounted in a mounting part of an imagecapturing apparatus including the mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard,comprising: providing, to the image capturing apparatus, information ofcommunication specifications used to perform predetermined communicationwith the image capturing apparatus in accordance with the predeterminedstandard, and performing, using the provided information of thecommunication specifications, the predetermined communication with theimage capturing apparatus in accordance with the predetermined standard.21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores aprogram for causing, when executed by a computer included in an imagecapturing apparatus that comprises a mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard, thecomputer to: obtain, from the device, information of communicationspecifications used to perform predetermined communication, inaccordance with the predetermined standard, with the device mounted inthe mounting part; and perform, using the obtained information of thecommunication specifications, the predetermined communication with thedevice mounted in the mounting part in accordance with the predeterminedstandard.
 22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores a program for causing, when executed by a computer included in adevice mounted in a mounting part of an image capturing apparatusincluding the mounting part capable of attaching/detaching a devicecapable of holding at least an image captured by the image capturingapparatus and capable of communicating with the mounted device inaccordance with a predetermined standard, the computer to: provide, tothe image capturing apparatus, information of communicationspecifications used to perform predetermined communication with theimage capturing apparatus in accordance with the predetermined standard;and perform, using the provided information of the communicationspecifications, the predetermined communication with the image capturingapparatus in accordance with the predetermined standard.